Facilitating digital subscriber line services via a subscriber premise network interface device

ABSTRACT

Various aspects of apparatuses and methods for enabling a subscriber premise network interface device (NID) to facilitate communication services including digitally derived voice services to be facilitated between a central office and a subscriber premise are disclosed herein. In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosures herein, such a method includes facilitating a downstream DSL voice channel transmission process at a subscriber premise Network Interface Device (NID) and facilitating an upstream DSL voice channel transmission process at the subscriber premise NID. The downstream DSL voice channel transmission process facilitates converting a voice component of a downstream DSL data stream to a corresponding downstream analog voice signal. The upstream DSL voice channel transmission process facilitates converting an upstream analog voice signal to an upstream voice component of an upstream DSL data stream.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures herein relate generally to Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)network interface devices and more particularly to facilitatingcommunication services via a subscriber premise DSL network interfacedevice.

BACKGROUND

Communication service subscribers often have a need for additionalcommunication services. Accordingly, service providers have a desire tooffer such additional communication services in a convenient andcost-effective manner. One or more additional telephone lines and one ormore additional high-speed data ports are examples of such additionalcommunication services.

However, the ability to offer communication service subscribers suchadditional communication services is often precluded due to necessaryexisting copper-pair telephone lines being unavailable. Conventionalsolutions for enabling such additional communication services to beimplemented when additional existing copper-pair telephone lines are notavailable include adding one or more new copper-pair telephone lines,utilizing pair gain (e.g. via digital added main line), adding fiberoptic service and the like. Adding one or more new copper-pair telephonelines and adding fiber optic service is costly and time-consuming. Pairgain via DAML only adds one additional Plain Old Telephone Service(POTS) line or a low speed data line. Furthermore, each of theseconventional solutions typically requires a truck roll of one sort oranother, thus requiring scheduling and increasing cost.

Accordingly, utilizing a digital subscriber line to facilitate enhancedsubscriber communication services over a single copper-pair telephoneline in a manner that overcomes limitations associated with conventionalsolutions is useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart view depicting a method for facilitating adownstream DSL transmission process at a subscriber premise NetworkInterface Device (NID) in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosures made herein.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart view depicting a method for facilitating anupstream DSL transmission process at a subscriber premise NID inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a subscriber premise NID inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein, whereinthe subscriber premise NID is capable of facilitating methods disclosedherein.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a DSL communication system inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein, whereinthe DSL communication system is capable of facilitating methodsdisclosed herein.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart view depicting a method 500 for facilitatingdiagnostic evaluation in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosures made herein, wherein the method is capable of facilitatingdiagnostic evaluation of a service subscriber paired-conductortransmission line, subscriber premise NID circuitry and a subscriberpremise transmission facility (i.e. in-house paired-conductortransmission line).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the disclosures made herein relate to utilizing asubscriber premise Network Interface Device (NID) in a manner thatexpands communication services capable of being offered via a singlepaired-conductor transmission line (e.g. a copper pair telephone line).To this end, a subscriber premise NID in accordance with an embodimentof the disclosures made herein is compatible with a single data networkthat segregates traffic only at network end points or gateways.Furthermore, such a subscriber premise NID is preferably centrallyprovisionable via a location remote from the subscriber premise.Accordingly, such a subscriber premise NID at least partially overcomeslimitations associated with offering communication services via a singlepaired-conductor transmission line.

A subscriber premise NID in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosures made herein contributes to overcoming limitations associatedwith offering communication services via conventional NIDs. For example,multiple communication services are capable of being offered via asingle paired conductor transmission line, thus contributing toconservation of available paired-conductor transmission lines.Additional communication services may be provided to the subscriber asneeded/when needed via remote provisioning, thus enhancing customerservice and service provider financial position. Such NIDs areextendable to digital and/or packet based data transport protocols andarchitectures. Remote diagnostics are capable of being facilitated bysuch NIDs, further enhancing customer service and service providerfinancial position. Furthermore, additional POTS lines to a subscriberpremise become a matter of provisioning, such as via Gateway (GW)management system, without a truck roll or wiring changes in the centraloffice.

Furthermore, one distinguishing attribute, of the subscriber premise NIDdisclosed herein is the placement of an ‘intelligent’ NID at the end ofthe network (at the end-user's premises) to serve as aremotely-controlled gate-keeper, enabling/disabling logical channels onthe single twisted pair to the premises. In one embodiment, thesubscriber premise NID is physically mounted on a subscriber's home, butit is considered operating company (e.g. service provider) equipment.Such placement allows the bandwidth of the existing line (now vastlyincreased by DSL technology), to be selectively provided to, or withheldfrom, the subscriber and, in fact, changed at will without a “truckroll”.

A method 100 for facilitating a downstream DSL transmission process inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein is depictedin FIG. 1. Such a method is capable of being facilitated by a subscriberpremise NID in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosures madeherein. The method 100 includes an operation 102 for receiving adownstream DSL data stream. DSL data streams include a plurality oftransmission units such as, for example, ATM cells and IP packets. Sucha downstream DSL data stream is typically transmitted for reception by asubscriber premise communication system from a central officecommunication apparatus.

Typically, the downstream DSL data stream is an aggregate DSL datastream including a plurality of components (e.g. a voice component, adata component and/or a video component). A voice component of thedownstream DSL data stream is comprised of voice signal downstreamtransmission units. A data component of the downstream DSL data streamis comprised of data downstream transmission units. A video component ofthe downstream data stream is comprised of video downstream transmissionunits. However, it is contemplated herein that the downstream DSL datastream as received by a particular subscriber premises NID may includeonly one type of communication component (i.e. a voice, data or videocomponent).

After receiving the downstream DSL data stream, an operation 104 isperformed for processing transmission units of the downstream DSL datastream (i.e. downstream transmission units). Processing the downstreamtransmission units includes determining the type of content carriedwithin each one of the downstream transmission units. One embodiment ofdetermining the type of content carried within each downstreamtransmission unit includes determining a protocol according to whicheach of the downstream transmission unit is transmitted and/orconfigured. For example, a downstream transmission unit transmittedaccording to ATM Application Layer 2 (AAL-2) protocol typicallycorresponds to voice signal content while a downstream transmission unittransmitted according to AAL-5 protocol typically corresponds to datacontent. Another embodiment of determining the type of content carriedwithin each downstream transmission unit includes assessing a channelidentifier (e.g. a virtual channel identifier) of each downstreamtransmission unit and correlating the channel identifier to a particulartype of content (voice, data, video, etc).

It is contemplated herein that processing the downstream transmissionunits may also include reassembling contents carried in a plurality ofthe downstream transmission units. For example, when the downstreamtransmission units are ATM cells each having segments of a correspondingIP packet carried therein, the contents are reassembling to generate thecorresponding IP packets. The reassembled IP packets (i.e. processeddownstream transmission units) proceed within the method 100.

After processing the downstream transmission units, an operation 106 isperformed for converting voice signal downstream transmission units toone or more corresponding downstream analog voice signals and anoperation 108 is performed for transmitting each downstream analog voicesignal for reception by a respective subscriber voice communicationsystem (i.e. telephone, fax, etc.) via a designated subscriber interfaceport. An embodiment of converting the voice signal downstreamtransmission units to the corresponding downstream analog voice signalincludes performing a transmission unit-to-analog conversion anddetermining a respective port identifier representing a designatedsubscriber interface port of the subscriber premise NID. It iscontemplated herein that determining the respective port identifier maybe performed as part of the operation 104 for processing the downstreamDSL data stream.

Transmission unit-to-analog conversion is defined herein to include aconversion process for converting a transmission unit (e.g. an ATM cell,IP packet or other type of transmission unit containing digitized andencoded voice samples) to a corresponding one or more analog signals. Inat least one embodiment, such a transmission unit-to-analog conversionincludes operations such as protocol translation, decoding, and/or d/aconversion. Similarly, analog-to-transmission unit conversion is definedherein to include a conversion process for converting an analog signalto at least one transmission unit. In at least one embodiment, such ananalog-to-transmission unit conversion includes operations such as fordigitizing (a/d conversion), encoding, and/or packetizing (protocolgeneration).

An operation 110 is performed for transmitting the data downstreamtransmission units for reception by one or more respective subscriberdata processing system via one or more corresponding designatedsubscriber interface ports. An embodiment of transmitting the datadownstream transmission units includes transmitting data downstreamtransmission units from the subscriber premise NID toward a subscribercommunication apparatus in a manner that is well suited for atransmission at the subscriber premise facility. Example protocols wellsuited for transmitting transmission units within the subscriber premisefacility include Home Phone Networking Alliance Methodology, twistedpair Ethernet, wireless Ethernet, etc.

A method 200 for facilitating an upstream DSL transmission process inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein is depictedin FIG. 2. Such a method is capable of being facilitated by a subscriberpremise NID in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosures madeherein. The method 200 includes an operation 202 for receiving anupstream analog voice signal via a respective subscriber interface port,such as from a subscriber voice communication device. In practice, aplurality of upstream analog voice signal may be received at respectivesubscriber interface ports and processed according to the method 200.

One embodiment of receiving the upstream analog voice signal includesfiltering an aggregate upstream signal for removing a first frequencycomponent of the aggregate upstream signal A frequency componentcorresponding to a data component of the aggregate upstream signal is anexample of the first frequency component. Accordingly, such filteringremoves a data component of the aggregate upstream signal from the voicepath, leaving only a voice signal component (i.e. the upstream analogvoice signal) of the aggregate upstream signal.

In response to receiving the upstream analog voice signal, an operation204 is performed for converting the upstream analog voice signal to aplurality of corresponding voice signal upstream transmission units. Inthe case of multiple upstream analog signals, each one of the upstreamanalog signals is converted to corresponding voice signal upstreamtransmission units. Such plurality of voice signals upstreamtransmission units comprise a voice component of an upstream DSL datastream. An embodiment of converting an upstream analog voice signal tocorresponding voice signal upstream transmission units includesperforming an analog-to-transmission unit conversion and assigning arespective port identifier representing the corresponding subscriberinterface port of the subscriber premise NID. In at least oneembodiment, the upstream analog voice signal is converted to a pluralityof Internet Protocol packets. Another embodiment is conversion to ATMcells.

In conjunction with receiving one or more analog upstream voice signals,an operation 206 is performed for receiving data upstream transmissionunits transmitted from one or more subscriber data processing systemstowards a central office communication apparatus. A data component ofthe upstream DSL data stream comprises the data upstream transmissionunits. One embodiment of receiving the data upstream transmission units,includes filtering an aggregate upstream signal for removing a secondfrequency component of the aggregate upstream signal from the data path.A frequency component corresponding to a voice component of theaggregate upstream signal is an example of the second frequencycomponent. Accordingly, such filtering removes a voice component of theaggregate upstream signal leaving only a data component (i.e. the dataupstream transmission units) in the data path.

After or in parallel with converting the upstream analog voice signaland/or receiving the data upstream transmission units, an operation 208is performed for processing the data and voice signal upstreamtransmission units. One embodiment of processing the data and voiceupstream transmission units includes segmenting contents of at least aportion of the voice signal and/or data and/or video upstreamtransmission units and includes assigning a channel identifier to eachone of said segmented (processed) voice signal and/or data and/or videoupstream transmission units. Segmenting the contents of an InternetProtocol packet into a plurality of ATM cells is an example ofsegmenting contents of at least a portion of the voice signal and/ordata and/or video upstream transmission units. A virtual channel (VC)identifier is an example of the channel identifier assigned to each oneof the voice signal and/or data and/or video upstream transmissionunits. After processing the voice signal and/or data and/or videoupstream transmission units, an operation 210 is performed fortransmitting these processed transmission units toward the centraloffice communication apparatus. Within the scope of the disclosures madeherein, data includes video with respect to facilitating processing andtransmission of video signals.

The operations for receiving, processing and converting voice signaldownstream transmission units represent a downstream DSL voice channeltransmission process. Similarly, the operations for receiving theupstream analog voice signal, converting the upstream analog voicesignal and processing the voice signal upstream transmission unitsrepresent an upstream DSL voice channel transmission process. Anadvantage of the downstream and upstream DSL voice channel transmissionprocesses is that voice signals corresponding to a plurality ofdifferent subscriber interface ports (e.g. telephone numbers) may becommunicated via the subscriber premise NID over a single copper pairtelephone line. Accordingly, the capability of an existing copper pairmay be extended in an effective yet cost efficient manner.

A subscriber premise Network Interface Device (NID) 300 in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosures made herein is depicted in FIG. 3.It is contemplated herein that the various circuits of the subscriberpremise NID may be discrete (not sharing circuit components) withrespect to each other and/or integral (sharing at least some circuitcomponents) with respect to each other. The subscriber premise NID 300includes a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Analog Front End (AFE) circuit302 and a DSL Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuit 304 connected tothe DSL AFE 302. The DSL AFE circuit 302 and the DSL DSP circuit 304jointly facilitate an analog-to-digital process for converting DSLsignals received by the subscriber premise NID 300 from a DSL specificanalog format to a transmission unit specific digital format (e.g. ATMcell format, IP packet format, etc.). The DSL AFE circuit 302 and theDSL DSP circuit 304 also jointly facilitate a digital-to-analog processfor converting DSL signals transmitted upstream from the subscriberpremise NID 300 from the transmission unit specific digital format tothe DSL specific analog format.

A Processor/Transmission Unit Segmenting And Reassembly(processor/TU-SAR) circuit 306 is connected to the DSL DSP circuit 304.The processor/TU-SAR circuit 306 facilitates reassembly of downstreamtransmission unit contents and segmentation of upstream transmissionunits. Reassembling and segmenting content of a transmission unit is anexample of reassembling and segmenting, respectively, upstream anddownstream transmission units. Such reassembly may include removingoverhead and/or headers from transmission units. Likewise, suchsegmentation may include adding necessary overhead and/or headers totransmission units. In an embodiment where voice is transmitted as data(i.e. voice content transmitted via a personal computer), datatransmission units such as IP packets (i.e. a first data transportprotocol) may be segmented into a plurality of corresponding ATM cells(a second data transport protocol).

In at least one embodiment of the processor/TU-SAR circuit 306, theprocessor/TU-SAR also facilitates assessment of a channel identifier ofeach downstream transmission unit and assignment of a channel identifierto each upstream transmission unit. Assessment of the channel identifierenables a type of content of each transmission unit to be identified.Accordingly, downstream transmission units identified as carrying voicesignal content continue along a voice-specific downstream path withinthe subscriber premise NID 300 and downstream transmission unitsidentified as carrying data and/or video content continue along adata-specific downstream path within the subscriber premise NID 300.

The voice-specific downstream path includes a voice signal DSP circuit308 and an encode-decode (CODEC) circuit 310. The voice signal DSPcircuit 308 is connected between the processor/TU-SAR circuit 306 andthe CODEC circuit 310 and the CODEC circuit 310 is further connecteddirectly to the processor/TU-SAR circuit 306. The voice signal DSPcircuit 308 and the CODEC circuit 310 jointly facilitate convertingdownstream voice signal transmission units to one or more correspondingdownstream analog voice signals and jointly facilitate converting one ormore upstream analog voice signals to corresponding voice signalupstream transmission units.

A voice signal conversion module comprises the voice signal DSP circuit308 and the CODEC circuit 310. In at least one embodiment of the voicesignal conversion module, the voice signal conversion moduletransmission unit further facilitates assessing a port identifier ofeach one of the voice signal downstream transmission units and assigninga port identifier to each one of the voice signal upstream transmissionunits. In this manner, a corresponding port and thus, telephone number,can be associated with each one of the voice signal downstream andupstream transmission units.

A plurality of Subscriber Line Interface /Low Pass Filter (SLI/LFP)circuits 312 are connected to the CODEC circuit 310. Each one of theSLI/LPF circuits 312 is connected to a respective one of a plurality ofsubscriber interface ports 314. In the downstream direction, the SLI/LPFcircuits facilitate delivering each one of the one or more downstreamanalog voice signals to the respective one of the plurality ofsubscriber interface ports 314. In the upstream direction, the SLI/LPFcircuits 312 facilitate filtering a relatively high-frequency componentfrom an aggregate upstream signal. The aggregate upstream signal is anexample of a signal including a relatively low-frequency voice componentand a relatively high-frequency data component. The aggregate upstreamsignal is received at one or more of the subscriber interface ports 314.

A Data Transmission/High Pass Filter (DT/HPF) circuit 316 is connectedbetween the processor/TU-SAR circuit and each one of the subscriberinterface ports 314. In the downstream direction, the DT/HPF circuit 316facilitates transmitting the data downstream transmission units towardthe subscriber premise via a desired transport protocol (e.g. InternetProtocol over Home Phone Networking Alliance methodology). Home PhoneNetworking Alliance methodology is an example of a subscriber premisespecific transport mechanism. In the upstream direction, the DT/HPFcircuit 316 facilitates filtering a relatively low-frequency component(e.g. an analog voice signal) from the aggregate upstream signal (i.e.the analog voice signal and a data upstream transmission unit signal)and transmitting the data upstream transmission units to the processorTU/SAR circuit 306.

The subscriber premise NID 300 includes diagnostic circuitry forenabling diagnostic test sequences to be facilitated on the subscriberpremise NID 300 and on remote communication facilities (e.g. centraloffice paired-conductor transmission lines and subscriber premisepaired-conductors transmission lines) connected to the subscriberpremise NID 300. A Mechanized Loop Test (MLT) termination circuit 318 isconnected between the DSL AFE circuit 302 and a front-end port 320. TheMLT termination circuit 318 facilitates MLT type test sequences to beperformed on the paired-conductor transmission line 322 connectedbetween a central office communication system and the subscriber premiseNID 300 (i.e. a service provider paired conductor transmission line). Achannel/premise wiring test circuit 324 is connected between theprocessor/TU-SAR circuit 306 and each one of the subscriber interfaceports 314. The channel/premise wiring test circuit 324 is connected toeach one of the subscriber interface ports 414. The channel/premisewiring test circuit 324 is connected to each one of the subscriberinterface ports 314 via a test access circuit 326.

The channel/premise wiring circuit 324 and test access circuit 326facilitate diagnostic test sequences to be performed on circuitry of thevoice signal and on subscriber premise transmission facilities (e.g. asubscriber premise pair-conductor transmission line). For example, thechannel/premise wiring circuit 324 facilitates normal channel testing tobe done on the SLI circuits 312 (e.g. parametric and signaling tests),while a diagnostic test sequence (e.g. a test sequence according toGR-909 or TR-398) is performed on the subscriber premise (e.g. in-house)wiring. Results of the test sequence are sent back to the voice gateway,where failure/pass is transmitted to a central office test head via theresistive signatures defined in GR-909.

The subscriber premise NID 300 further includes a power detect andconversion circuit 328. The power detect and conversion circuit 328receives an NID supply voltage supplied from a central office powersupply via a service provider paired-conductor transmission line 330connected between the central office power supply and the subscriberpremise NID 300. A low pass filter circuit 332 is connected between thetransmission line 330 and the power detect and conversion circuit 328for preventing the loading down or attenuation of the DSL signal and forattenuating the high frequency energy that goes from power detect andconversion circuit 328 back into the DSL signal. The power detect andconversion circuit 328 supplies appropriate levels of power to thevarious circuits and circuit components of the subscriber premise NID300. The power detect and conversion circuit 328 also automaticallyfacilitates termination of the service provider paired-conductortransmission line 330 (e.g. via the MLT termination circuit 318) inresponse to the NID supply voltage being removed from the serviceprovider paired-conductor transmission line 330, thus allowing a MLTtype test sequence to be conducted on the service providerpaired-conductor transmission line 330. It should be understood thatsuch a test sequence cannot generally be conducted with the NID supplyvoltage on the service provider paired-conductor transmission line.

A DSL communication system 400 in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosures made herein is depicted in FIG. 4. The DSL communicationsystem 400 includes a central office communication apparatus 402connected to a subscriber premise NID 404. The subscriber premise NID404 is capable of providing functionality as disclosed herein. The DSLcommunication apparatus 402 is connected to the subscriber premise NIDvia a service provider paired-conductor transmission line 406. Thecentral office communication apparatus 402 includes a power supplysystem 408, a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) 410, adiagnostic system 412, and a power control system 414.

The power supply system 408 is connected between the DSLAM 410 and thesubscriber premise NID 404. The power supply system 408 supplies an NIDsupply voltage to the subscriber premise NID 404 via the serviceprovider paired-conductor transmission line 406. The power supply system408 includes a power supply 416 serving as a source for the NID supplyvoltage. A low pass filter (LPF) 418 is connected between the powersupply 416 and the transmission line 406 for preventing the loading downor attenuation of the DSL signal and for attenuating the high frequencyenergy that goes from power supply 416 into the DSL signal on thetransmission line 406. It is contemplated herein that redundant powersupplies may be provided for system robustness.

The power supply system 408 permits the subscriber premise NID 404 to beremotely powered from the CO (or remote housing), allowing subscriberpremise NID functionality even if subscriber premise powering (i.e.utility company provided AC power) fails. This permits POTS services tostill be “life-line”, while also permitting battery powered laptops witha NID compatible interface (e.g. HPNA interface) to function as well.

Present technology implementation require the subscriber premise NID 404to consume power at approximately an 8 watt level (assuming data serviceand 2 POTS lines off-hook and 1 line ringing). This means that the powerdelivered by the powering system to be approximately 16 watts (with halfthe power worst case lost in the loop). Accordingly, an NID) supplyvoltage of about 190 volts +/−5% DC is required to provide service toCSA loops (e.g. 12 Kft 24 ga, 9 Kft 26 ga.).

When remote powering of the subscriber premise NID 404 is facilitatedover the service provider paired conductor transmission line 406 and allPOTS lines are derived, the traditional office battery feed/signalingpath is replaced by the NID supply voltage from the NID power supplysystem 408. Accordingly, the conventional analog signaling needs to befacilitated in a non-conventional manner. One embodiment of such anon-conventional signaling scheme includes converting the DCsignaling/ringing to an AAL2 ATM channel associated signaling stream atthe Voice Gateway, transmitting this cell stream via a DSL protocol overthe service provider paired conductor transmission line 406, andreconverting the AAL2 ATM stream to conventional POTS signaling/ringingat the NID 404.

The power supply system 408 includes relay circuitry for allowing theNID supply voltage to be removed during MLT type testing evaluations.Such relay circuitry also enables power to be removed from thesubscriber premise NID 404 for disabling operability of the subscriberpremise NID 404 when service is to be denied. The relay circuitry willalso have an MTAU function on it to do wideband testing on atest-in/test-out/monitor basis, manipulated by a control card in thepowering system shelf. If the MTAU function in the DSL line card is tobe used instead of the MTAU function of the powering system,coordination with the power supply system 408 is still needed to removethe NID supply voltage during MLT type testing sequences of the serviceprovider paired conductor transmission line 406.

The DSLAM 410 includes a DSL line card 420, a network termination module422 and a voice gateway module 424. The network termination module 422and the voice gateway module 424 are each coupled to the DSL line card420 and respective upstream communication apparatuses (not shown). It iscontemplated herein that the voice gateway module 424 may be external tothe DSLAM at the central office location or remote location. It iscontemplated herein that the DSLAM may be replaced by a Digital LoopCarrier (DLC) with DSL capabilities, or other functionally suitableapparatus. It is also contemplated herein that a high pass filter may beincluded in the power supply system 408 in order to prevent the powersupply voltage from getting into the DSLAM or DLC. When this high passfilter is included, it connects between point 428 and the DSL line card420.

The diagnostic system 412 is connected to the service providerpaired-conductor transmission line 406 at a first point 426 and at asecond point 428. The first point 426 is between a power insertion point430 of the power supply 408 and the subscriber premise NID 404. Thesecond point 428 is between the DSLAM 410 and the power insertion point430. Accordingly, upstream and downstream (relative to the power supplysystem 408) diagnostic test sequences may be facilitated via thediagnostic system 412.

The power control system 414 is connected to the power supply system 408and is capable of facilitating management of the power supply system408. In conjunction with a plurality of relays 432 of the power supplysystem 408, the power control system 414 is capable of controllingvarious states of the NID supply voltage. Such various states includeapplication, removal and magnitude adjustment of the NID supply voltage.

Functionality of the subscriber premise NID 404 is supported by gatewayfunctionality provided by the voice gateway module 424. In at least oneembodiment of the voice gateway module 424, the voice gateway module 424supports IDLC Generic Requirements, Objectives and Interface(GR-303)/Digital Interface Between the SLC96 DLC System and a LocalDigital Switch (GR-008). Embodiments of the voice gateway module 424based on Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and Voice Over ATM are alsocontemplated herein. In GR-303/GR-008 based embodiments of the voicegateway module 424, the voice gateway module 424 facilitates translationof encoded voice bearing AAL2 cells into Pulse Code Modulation/TimeDivision Multiplexing (PCM/TDM) telephony interfaces (i.e. DS1, OC3) fora local digital switch. On instance of a VOIP embodiment of the voicegateway module 424 is the interworking between encoded voice in IPpackets and encoded voice in AAL2 adapted ATM cells, and also theinterworking between softswitch managed call control and channelassociated call control and signaling.

As disclosed herein, subscriber premise NIDs in accordance withembodiments of the disclosures made herein are supported by centraloffice/remote equipment that transmits a DSL signal to the subscriberpremise NID. It is also disclosed herein that such NIDs also have a NIDsupply voltage supplied via a central office apparatus. Accordingly,loss of home power does not affect telephone use, thus providing“life-line” service for telephony. The subscriber premise NID supplyvoltage is typically monitored and redundant.

In accordance with at least one embodiments of the disclosures madeherein, all traffic over a paired conductor transmission line facilityconnected between the central office and the subscriber premise NID isATM based. The subscriber premise NID separates and routes the ATMcells, as necessary. The ATM cells are separated and routed based onidentifiers (e.g. VP/VC identity) carried by the traffic. ATM celltransport over DSL is desirable as it is the prevalent high-speed datadelivery system to subscribers in many DSL markets. Voice services(encoded into ATM cells) are converted from ATM cell content to analogsignals in the subscriber premise NID and presented to appropriatesubscriber interface ports, such as via RJ11 connectors. In this manner,the subscriber premise NID supports multiple POTS lines over a singlecopper pair entering the subscriber premise NID. Data bandwidth not usedfor voice services can be used for data/video services. In the case ofHPNA, this data is converted to HPNA format, and overlaid on the samelines as the POTS lines (using a different frequency spectrum).

As all traffic between the subscriber premise NID and the central officeDSLAM is ATM data formatted (converted to voice where applicable), itmust be capable of entering appropriate networks for routing/switching.This is done in several ways, depending on service provider/centraloffice preference. Where all upstream traffic from the subscriberpremise NID remains as ATM streams to be switched at an ATM switch,these ATM cell streams would exit a network termination (NT, i.e. DS3,OC3, etc.) in the central office (or remote housing) and home on an ATMswitch, with voice ATM streams going to a Voice Gateway (i.e., ATM inGR303 or GR-008 formatted signals out to a Class 5 switch) and with dataand/or video streams continuing through a designated data network.Alternatively, integrated gateway units can be provided within the DSLAMto connect voice services to a Class 5 switch (GR-008/GR303) or to apacket switch for VOIP applications.

NID and central office communication apparatus architecture inaccordance with embodiments of the disclosures made herein provide ahigh degree of testability and diagnostics. Such an NID permitsdiagnostic evaluations of the service provider paired conductortransmission line(s), NID circuitry and subscriber premise wiring.However, because POTS lines are all derived from digital transmissionunits (e.g. ATM cells), service provider paired-conductor transmissionlines are simply a transport facility capable of transmitting upstreamand downstream transmission units. Accordingly, diagnostic evaluationsmust be implemented in a suitable and compatible manner.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of a method 500 for facilitating diagnosticevaluation of a service subscriber paired-conductor transmission line,subscriber premise NID circuitry and subscriber premise transmissionfacility (i.e. in-house paired-conductor transmission line). In responseto performing an operation 502 for monitoring transmission performanceof the service provider paired conductor transmission line at a centraloffice communication apparatus and/or in response to performing anoperation 504 for receiving a service notification at the central officecommunication apparatus, an operation 506 is performed at the centraloffice communication apparatus for determining whether a degradationthreshold has been exceeded. It should be noted that continual orperiodic monitoring of transmission performance of the service providerpaired-conductor transmission line allows any adverse transmissionperformance to be identified in a timely manner. Accordingly, there is ahigh likeliness that any degradation in transmission performance wouldbe identified before a service notification related to such degradationwould be issued.

In response to determining that the degradation threshold has not beenexceeded on the facility pair running from the CO to the NID, asubscriber premise facility diagnostic evaluation is performed. At leasta portion of the subscriber premise facility diagnostic evaluation isimplemented by the subscriber premise NID. The subscriber premisediagnostic evaluation includes an operation 508 for performing a MLTtype test sequence (i.e. a first type of diagnostic evaluation) forevaluating performance of subscriber premise transmission lines (i.e.the subscriber in-premise wiring facilities) and an operation 510 forfacilitating channel testing in response to a Paired Gain TestController (PGTC) type test sequence (i.e. a second type of diagnosticevaluation) for evaluating the circuitry function of the entireconnection between the local switch and the subscriber premise NID.Examples of MT type tests include tests for evaluating foreign emf(FEMF), resistive/capacitive faults, receiver off-hook (ROH) and ringertest. Examples of PGTC type tests are tests in which the PGTC appliesvoltages/ringing and, in response, expects terminations/ring trips to beapplied at the far end (i.e. subscriber premise NID) so thattransmission and signaling tests can be performed. One embodiment offacilitating the PGTC type test sequence includes responding to voltagesand/or signals (i.e. test conditions) governed by a PGTC test apparatusso that circuit performance measurements may be made by the PGTC testapparatus. In this manner, the subscriber premise NID enables a PGTCtype test sequence to be performed. It is contemplated herein that asubset of an MLT type test sequence may be performed for evaluatingperformance of subscriber premise transmission lines, such as a subsetdisclosed in GR-909.

After performing the MLT type test sequence and performing the PGTC typetest sequence, an operation 512 is performed for transmittingappropriate test results from the subscriber premise NID for receptionby the central office communication apparatus and an operation 514 isperformed at the central office communication apparatus for assessingthe test results. One embodiment of transmitting appropriate testresults includes transmitting messages that convey the appropriate testresults corresponding to the MLT test result to a voice gateway. Thevoice gateway, in turn, communicates the test results to a MLT test headvia resistive signatures, thus enabling the central office MLT tester toassess the test results. After assessing the test results, an operation516 is performed for facilitating an appropriate corrective action to beimplemented. After such corrective action has been successfullyimplemented, the method 500 continues at the operation 502 formonitoring transmission line performance.

Returning to the operation 506 for determining whether the degradationthreshold has been exceeded, in response to determining that thedegradation threshold has been exceeded, an operation 518 is performedfor facilitating removal of the NID supply voltage from the serviceprovider paired-conductor transmission line. That is, providing the NIDsupply voltage is provided via the service provider paired-conductortransmission line. After removal of the NID supply voltage, an operation520 is performed for facilitating a MLT type test sequence on theservice provider paired-conductor transmission line (i.e. on a copperfacility from a CO/Remote apparatus to the NID). It is contemplatedherein that the NID supply voltage may be provided via a subscriberpremise supply system in an alternate embodiment. In such an embodiment,the operation 508 for facilitating removal of the NID supply voltage isunnecessary.

In response to the MLT type test sequence identifying a problem with theservice provider paired conductor transmission line, the operation 516is performed for facilitating the appropriate corrective action. Aftersuch corrective action has been successfully implemented, the methodcontinues at the operation 502 for monitoring transmission lineperformance. In response to the MLT type test sequence not identifying aproblem with the service provider paired conductor transmission line,the subscriber premise facility diagnostic evaluation is facilitated, asdiscussed above.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitableembodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, chemical andelectrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention. For example, functional blocks shown in thefigures could be further combined or divided in any manner withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Also, whileembodiments disclosed herein relate to cell-based DSL solutions, it iscontemplated that embodiments of the disclosures made herein may beimplemented via frame-based DSL solutions. To avoid unnecessary detail,the description omits certain information known to those skilled in theart. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended tobe limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary,it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, andequivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

1. A subscriber premise Network Interface Device (NID), comprising: aDigital Subscriber Line (DSL) data stream processing circuit enablingreception of voice signal downstream transmission units, wherein saidvoice signal downstream transmission units are received in accordancewith a DSL protocol; a transmission unit processing circuit enablingchannel identifier assessment of said voice signal downstreamtransmission units and facilitating reassembly of voice signal contentof said voice signal downstream transmission units; a voice signalconversion circuit enabling conversion of said voice signal downstreamtransmission units to a corresponding downstream analog voice signal;and a test circuit enabling functional operability evaluation of serviceprovider facility paired conductors including automatically terminatingat least one pair of said service provider facility paired conductors inresponse to an NID supply voltage being removed from said at least onepair of service provider facility paired conductors.
 2. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 1 wherein the transmission unit processing circuitis connected between the DSL data stream processing circuit and thevoice signal conversion circuit.
 3. The subscriber premise NID of claim1 wherein: each one of said voice signal downstream transmission unitsincludes a virtual channel identifier; and the transmission unitprocessing circuit includes circuitry for determining virtual channelidentifiers, thus enabling channel identifier assessment of said voicesignal downstream transmission units.
 4. The subscriber premise NID ofclaim 1 wherein the transmission unit processing circuit is furthercapable of removing data transport protocol overhead from said voicesignal downstream transmission units.
 5. The subscriber premise NID ofclaim 4 wherein: each one of said voice signal downstream transmissionunits is received by the transmission unit processing circuit as anAsynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cell; and said data transport protocoloverhead is ATM overhead.
 6. The subscriber premise NID of claim 1wherein the transmission unit processing circuit is further capable ofremoving data transport protocol overhead and data transport protocolheaders from said voice signal downstream transmission units.
 7. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 6 wherein: each one of said voice signaldownstream transmission units is received by the transmission unitprocessing circuit as an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cell; and saiddata transport protocol overhead is ATM overhead and said data transportprotocol headers are ATM headers.
 8. The subscriber premise NID of claim1 wherein: each one of said voice signal downstream transmission unitsis received at the transmission unit processing circuit as anAsynchronous Transfer Mode cell; and enabling reassembly of voice signalcontent of said voice signal downstream transmission units includesreassembling a plurality of said voice signal downstream transmissionunits into a corresponding Internet Protocol packet.
 9. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 1 wherein: each one of said voice signal downstreamtransmission units received by the transmission unit processing circuitis a transmission unit configured according to a first data transportprotocol; and enabling reassembly of said voice signal downstreamtransmission units includes combining contents of a plurality of saidtransmission units configured according to the first data transportprotocol into a corresponding transmission unit configured according toa second data transport protocol.
 10. The subscriber premise NID ofclaim 1 wherein the transmission unit processing circuit includes avoice digital signal processor.
 11. The subscriber premise NID of claim1 wherein voice signal conversion circuit is connected between thetransmission unit processing circuit and a plurality of subscriberinterface ports.
 12. The subscriber premise NID of claim 1 wherein thevoice signal conversion circuit is capable of enabling a transmissionunit-to-analog conversion operation and enabling ananalog-to-transmission unit conversion operation.
 13. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 12 wherein: said voice signal downstreamtransmission units are received by the voice signal conversion circuitas Internet Protocol (IP) packets; and the voice signal conversioncircuit converts said IP packets to the corresponding downstream analogvoice signal.
 14. The subscriber premise NID of claim 1 wherein thevoice signal conversion circuit includes digital encode-decodecircuitry.
 15. The subscriber premise NID of claim 14 wherein the voicesignal conversion circuit includes a voice digital signal processor. 16.The subscriber premise NID of claim 1 wherein enabling said functionaloperability includes terminating at least one pair of said serviceprovider facility paired conductors.
 17. The subscriber premise NID ofclaim 1 wherein terminating said at least one pair of service providerfacility paired conductors is performed after an NID supply voltage isremoved from said at least one pair of service provider facility pairedconductors.
 18. The subscriber premise NID of claim 1, furthercomprising a voltage control circuit capable of automaticallycoordinating removal of a NID supply voltage upon initiation of saidfunctional operability evaluation of service provider facility pairedconductors.
 19. The subscriber premise NID of claim 1, furthercomprising: a test circuit capable of enabling functional operabilityevaluation of a subscriber premise transmission facility.
 20. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 19 wherein enabling said functionaloperability evaluation includes enabling testing of paired conductors ofthe subscriber premise transmission facility.
 21. The subscriber premiseNID of claim 20 wherein enabling functional operability evaluation ofsaid subscriber premise facility paired conductors includes implementingat least a portion of a subscriber premise transmission facility testsequence.
 22. The subscriber premise NID of claim 21 wherein: the testcircuit facilitates transmission of at least one upstream transmissionunit conveying test results after the subscriber premise transmissionfacility test sequence is performed; and said at least one upstreamtransmission unit is transmitted for reception by a central office voicegateway.
 23. The subscriber premise NID of claim 1, further comprising:a test circuit capable of enabling functional operability evaluation ofNID circuitry.
 24. The subscriber premise NID of claim 23 whereinenabling functional operability evaluation of said NID circuitryincludes responding to test conditions governed by a Pair Gain TestController.
 25. The subscriber premise NID of claim 23 wherein enablingfunctional operability evaluation of said NID circuitry includes testingfunctional operability of NID Subscriber Line Interface Circuitry (SLIC)associated with at least one subscriber interface port.
 26. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 1 wherein: the voice signal conversioncircuit is further capable of enabling conversion of an upstream analogvoice signal to corresponding voice signal upstream transmission units;the transmission unit processing circuit is further capable of enablingchannel identifier association for said voice signal upstreamtransmission units; and the DSL data stream processing circuit isfurther capable of enabling transmission of said voice signal upstreamtransmission units, wherein said voice signal upstream transmissionunits are transmitted in accordance with the DSL protocol.
 27. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 26 wherein the voice signal conversioncircuit is further capable of enabling subscriber interface identifierassociation for associating at least one subscriber interface identifierwith each one of said voice signal upstream transmission units.
 28. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 26 wherein enabling channel identifierassociation includes associating a channel identifier with each one ofsaid voice signal upstream transmission units.
 29. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 26 wherein the channel identifier associated witheach one of said voice signal upstream transmission units is a virtualchannel identifier.
 30. A subscriber premise Network Interface Device(NID), comprising: means for enabling reception of a downstream DSL datastream including voice signal downstream transmission units; means forenabling channel identifier assessment for identifying said voice signaldownstream transmission units; means for enabling analog conversion ofsaid voice signal downstream transmission units, wherein said voicesignal downstream transmission units are converted to a correspondingdownstream analog voice signal; and means for enabling functionaloperability evaluation of service provider facility paired conductorsincluding terminating at least one pair of said service providerfacility paired conductors after an NID supply voltage is removed fromsaid at least one pair of service provider facility paired conductors.31. The subscriber premise NID of claim 30 wherein: each one of saidvoice signal downstream transmission units includes a virtual channelidentifier; and said means for enabling channel identifier assessment iscapable of determining virtual channel identifiers, thus enablingchannel identifier assessment of said voice signal downstreamtransmission units.
 32. The subscriber premise NID of claim 30, furthercomprising: means for enabling removal of data transport protocoloverhead from said voice signal downstream transmission units.
 33. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 32 wherein: each one of said voicesignal downstream transmission units is received by said means forenabling removal of data transport protocol overhead as an AsynchronousTransfer Mode (ATM) cell; and said data transport protocol overhead isATM overhead.
 34. The subscriber premise NID of claim 30, furthercomprising: means for enabling removal of data transport protocoloverhead and data transport protocol headers from said voice signaldownstream transmission units.
 35. The subscriber premise NID of claim30, further comprising: means for reassembling voice signal content ofsaid voice signal downstream transmission units, wherein each one ofsaid voice signal downstream transmission units is received at saidmeans for reassembling as an Asynchronous Transfer Mode cell, andwherein said means for reassembly facilitates reassembling a pluralityof said voice signal downstream transmission units into a correspondingInternet Protocol packet.
 36. The subscriber premise NID of claim 30,further comprising: means for reassembling voice signal content of saidvoice signal downstream transmission units, wherein each one of saidvoice signal downstream transmission units is received at said means forreassembling as a transmission unit configured according to a first datatransport protocol and wherein said means for reassembly facilitatesreassembling voice signal content of a plurality of said voice signaldownstream transmission units into a corresponding voice signaldownstream transmission unit configured according to a second datatransport protocol.
 37. The subscriber premise NID of claim 30 whereinsaid means for enabling analog conversion performs a transmissionunit-to-analog conversion operation for converting said voice signaldownstream transmission units to the corresponding downstream analogvoice signal.
 38. The subscriber premise NID of claim 37 wherein: saidvoice signal downstream transmission units are received by said meansfor enabling analog conversion as Internet Protocol (IP) packets; andsaid means for enabling analog conversion converts said IP packets tothe corresponding downstream analog voice signal.
 39. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 30, further comprising: means for automaticallycoordinating removal of a NID supply voltage upon initiation of saidfunctional operability evaluation of service provider facility pairedconductors.
 40. The subscriber premise NID of claim 30 wherein enablingsaid functional operability evaluation of said service provider facilitypaired conductors includes automatically terminating at least one pairof said service provider facility paired conductors in response to anNID supply voltage being removed from said at least one pair of serviceprovider facility paired conductors.
 41. The subscriber premise NID ofclaim 30, further comprising: means for enabling functional operabilityevaluation of a subscriber premise transmission facility.
 42. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 41 wherein enabling said functionaloperability evaluation includes facilitating testing of pairedconductors of the subscriber premise transmission facility.
 43. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 42 wherein enabling functionaloperability evaluation of said subscriber premise facility pairedconductors includes implementing at least a portion of a subscriberpremise transmission facility test sequence.
 44. The subscriber premiseNID of claim 43 wherein the test circuit transmits a message conveyingtest results for reception by a central office voice gateway after thesubscriber premise transmission facility test sequence is performed. 45.The subscriber premise NID of claim 30, further comprising: means forenabling functional operability evaluation of NID circuitry.
 46. Thesubscriber premise NID of claim 45 wherein enabling functionaloperability evaluation of said NID circuitry includes responding to testconditions governed by a Pair Gain Test Controller.
 47. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 45 wherein enabling functional operabilityevaluation of said NID circuitry includes testing functional operabilityof NID Subscriber Line Interface Circuitry (SLIC) associated with atleast one subscriber interface port.
 48. The subscriber premise NID ofclaim 30, further comprising: means for converting an upstream analogvoice signal to corresponding voice signal upstream transmission units;means for associating a channel identifier to each one of said voicesignal upstream transmission units means for transmitting said voicesignal upstream transmission units, wherein said voice signal upstreamtransmission units are transmitted in accordance with the DSL protocol.49. The subscriber premise NID of claim 48, further comprising: meansfor associating a subscriber interface identifier to each one of saidvoice signal upstream transmission units.
 50. A subscriber premiseNetwork Interface Device (NID), comprising: a Digital Subscriber Line(DSL) data stream processing circuit enabling reception of voice signaldownstream transmission units, wherein said voice signal downstreamtransmission units are received in accordance with a DSL protocol; atransmission unit processing circuit enabling channel identifierassessment of said voice signal downstream transmission units andfacilitating reassembly of voice signal content of said voice signaldownstream transmission units; a voice signal conversion circuitenabling conversion of said voice signal downstream transmission unitsto a corresponding downstream analog voice signal; a first test circuitcapable of terminating at least one pair of said service providerfacility paired conductors for facilitating functional operabilityevaluation of service provider facility paired conductors; a second testcircuit enabling functional operability evaluation of a subscriberpremise transmission facility, wherein the second test circuit transmitsa message conveying test results for reception by a central office voicegateway after a subscriber premise transmission facility test sequenceis performed; and a third test circuit capable of responding to testconditions governed by a Pair Gain Test Controller for enablingfunctional operability evaluation of NID circuitry.
 51. A subscriberpremise Network Interface Device (NID), comprising: means for enablingreception of a downstream DSL data stream including voice signaldownstream transmission units; means for enabling channel identifierassessment for identifying said voice signal downstream transmissionunits; means for enabling analog conversion of said voice signaldownstream transmission units, wherein said voice signal downstreamtransmission units are converted to a corresponding downstream analogvoice signal; means for enabling removal of at least one of datatransport protocol overhead and data transport protocol headers fromsaid voice signal downstream transmission units; means for reassemblingvoice signal content of said voice signal downstream transmission units,wherein each one of said voice signal downstream transmission units isreceived at said means for reassembling as a transmission unitconfigured according to a first data transport protocol; means forenabling functional operability evaluation of service provider facilitypaired conductors; means for enabling functional operability evaluationof a subscriber premise transmission facility; and means for enablingfunctional operability evaluation of NID circuitry.
 52. The subscriberpremise NID of claim 51, further comprising: means for convening anupstream analog voice signal to corresponding voice signal upstreamtransmission units; means for associating a channel identifier to eachone of said voice signal upstream transmission units; and means fortransmitting said voice signal upstream transmission units, wherein saidvoice signal upstream transmission units are transmitted in accordancewith the DSL protocol.